Ibadan – The Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), has cautioned former President Olusegun Obasanjo; former Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida and General T.Y. Danjuma, to do eschew actions and statements capable of “setting Nigeria on fire.”

MUSWEN in the statement, copies of which were made available to newsmen in Ibadan on Monday, also cautioned religious leaders and other elder statesmen against “undue politicisation of issues “.

The group appealed to the trio of Obasanjo, Babangida and Danjuma to thread with caution and not to “throw the country into further confusion.”

MUSWEN said “Against the background of recent political developments, we use this opportunity to call on past political leaders, especially Generals Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida and Theophilus Danjuma to thread with caution as elder statesmen and not throw the nation into further confusion.

The religious body, however, expressed displeasure over the continued abduction of Leah Sharibu by members of the Book Haram group.

“We, therefore, call on members of the Boko Haram group to release the girl forthwith without any further delay. It is unimaginable how far the group could go in its acts of the mindless disservice to Islam and Muslims. Islam stands for humanity, not against it” MUSWEN appealed.

The religious body added that: “We want to reiterate the fact that Islam forbids forceful conversion of non-Muslims to Islam and enjoins respect for People of the Book – Jews and Christians. Indeed, Allah explicitly directs Muslims to provide refuge to even idol-worshippers who seek shelter in our abodes and grant them protection to safety!”

MUSWEN expressed surprise that some Christian leaders and elder have allegedly politicised the matter, insisting that “we declare for the umpteenth time that the Boko Haram group does not represent Islam and the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria”.

The group urged Nigerians to continue to live together in peace and harmony, irrespective of religious and political differences.

The statement reads in part: “Contest for political positions should not be a do-or-die affair. It should rather be a contest of ideas about building a better future for Nigeria and Nigerians.

“Our politicians must conduct themselves in a decent manner and not turn Nigeria into a battle zone. They must remember that only Allah can grant power and authority to whoever He wills. As such, we call on all politicians and the electorate to eschew violence in whatever form. The nation can only make progress in an atmosphere of peace.”